Haijing 5901 Nansha
The Zhaotou class is a NATO reporting name of the ship class of patrol vessels of the China Coast Guard. Coast guard 5901 was originally numbered 3901, reflecting a re-assignment from the Nanhai Branch third bureau to that Branch's fifth bureau. The Coast Guard "3901" ship is a large ocean-going integrated patrol ship under the China Coast Guard. It is the second 10,000-ton Coast Guard ship and is the same type as the China Coast Guard 2901 that was previously included in the China Coast Guard East China Sea Branch. The ship has great advantages over the maritime law enforcement ships of neighboring countries in terms of endurance, collision resistance, seaworthiness and speed. It is the world's largest coast guard ship and will be of great help to China's coast guard in strengthening its maritime rights protection capabilities.
Franz-Stefan Gady explained "Unlike actual surface naval combat, in hostile encounters between coast guards the size of the ship plays a large role, particularly in the South China Sea, which has seen numerous instances of ‘ramming contests’ with two vessels often engaging in games of chicken trying to scare the other vessel off. The CCG 3901 appears to be first and foremost a coercive instrument for such encounters and will help to advance China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea."
The 165-meter long Chinese vessel CCG 5901 is currently the biggest coast guard vessel in the world – rather larger than the size of a 9,800 ton US Navy Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser. But constary to the claims of some enthusiasts, 5901 is not "double the size of a U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser". When confronting other countries' coast guards, the pressure brought by its spectacular appearance is enough to shock other countries. The Coast Guard 5901 is a coast guard ship in service in China, with a displacement of 12,000 tons, which is basically equivalent to the tonnage of the Type 055, the 13,000-ton large destroyer currently in service in the Chinese Navy. It is currently the largest coast guard ship in the world, and is more than 5,000 tons larger than the second-ranked Japan's "Akitsushima".
The super-large Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 has a displacement of 12,000 tons. It is equipped with 76mm naval guns and 12.7mm machine guns, and its firepower is strong enough to rival the naval warships of ordinary countries. The Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 is equipped with four high-power diesel engines. The sufficient power provided by the four diesel engines can allow the 10,000-ton-class Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 to run at a speed of 25 knots.
The ship has a large helicopter flight deck and hangar at the stern, which can carry a large Z-8 helicopter. The bow is equipped with a 76mm high-altitude and horizontal dual-purpose rapid-fire naval gun of the same type as China's 054A frigate, with a firing rate of 120 rounds per minute and a maximum range of more than 17 kilometers. The power of a single gun is enough to suppress an artillery battalion. In addition, the ship is also equipped with several 30mm single-barrel machine guns and 12.7mm heavy machine guns for close-range fire suppression. And as a coast guard ship, the ship is also equipped with powerful high-pressure water guns, which can perform "hydraulic" suppression at low to medium intensity without endangering life safety during law enforcement.
The high-pressure water guns on the Coast Guard 5901 played a major role in the "bombardment" with the Vietnamese fishery administration boat. Don't underestimate this high-pressure water gun, its impact is much stronger than that of a fire hose. When firing, the system will pump seawater into the water gun machine and then fire it out at high pressure. The strong impact can not only break the porthole glass of the Vietnamese fishery administration boat, "precisely strike" the personnel in the cab , but also destroy the exposed equipment on the ship, such as speakers, antennas, radars, etc.
A second domestically-produced coast guard ship, CCG (China Coast Guard) 3901, was completed by late 2015 and was ready to start protecting China's maritime rights, said a report in the Global Times on 11 January 2016, citing unconfirmed source. Judging from its appearance, all the major equipment has been installed, indicating that the vessel is likely to be delivered soon to the China Coast Guard. According to its designation number, Coast Guard 3901, it was predicted that CCG3901 will be deployed in the South China Sea and become a mainstay of China's maritime law enforcement in that area.
CCG 3901, with a 12,000-ton displacement and maximum speed of 25 kn, is also equipped with 76mm rapid fire guns, two auxiliary guns and two anti-aircraft machine guns. It has great advantages in endurance, impact-resistant performance, seaworthiness and speed compared to other coast guard vessels. It is the largest coast guard ship in the world. Some foreign media have even called it "the monster" for its size.
In addition, CCG3901 has a helicopter platform and hangar in the stern, capable of transporting heavy helicopters. All this marks a major step forward for China's marine police ships. The ship is similar in design to the CCG2901, which was deployed last year in eastern China's sea. The CCG3901 can stay out at sea longer, hold a bigger crew and carry more supplies. It is also safer if a crash should occur.
Liu Bing, an equipment researcher at the China Institute of Marine Technology and Economy in Beijing, said that compared with other Chinese patrol ships, the new vessel has a much longer cruise range and can carry sufficient supplies to fulfill lengthy duties. He said the ship has good living conditions, including entertainment and medical facilities, and can operate in all weather. "In addition, the vessel's size enables it to engage in or withstand direct collision with other vessels," he said. "It can also carry heavy-duty helicopters to conduct air operations that smaller ships are unable to carry out."
Earlier media reports identified the shipmaker as China Shipping Industry Corporation (CSIC), one of the country’s two shipping giants. But new photos leaked online show the ship docking at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai - a subsidiary of the State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). In January 2015, the Beijing Times reported that CSIC had secured a 280-million-yuan (HK$356 million) contract to build two marine surveillance vessels – a 10,000-tonne and a 4,000-tonne patrol ship – but it took down the announcement on its website shortly after the report and refused to comment on the matter.
In May 2017, it was reported that China had dispatched the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard Ship 3901 to patrol the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Coast Guard 3901 is the largest coast guard law enforcement ship in the world, even larger than the 9,800-ton Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser and the 8,300-9,300-ton Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy .
The good days of the Japanese Coast Guard have long become history. Under the strong impact of the explosive growth of the Chinese Coast Guard, it soon tasted the taste of "huge pressure." Today, the Chinese Coast Guard has leapt into a paramilitary force, and the size of its ships and weapons configuration will be further strengthened. The Japanese Coast Guard is worried about this and has to painfully admit that the gap in strength between the two sides is getting wider and wider.
The Chinese Coast Guard's "3901" law enforcement ship, the world's largest coast guard ship with a displacement of 12,000 tons, successfully completed its first law enforcement voyage southward in early May 2017 to ensure timely discovery and investigation of illegal activities in relevant waters, and to understand the ecological protection of the islands and their surrounding waters. The cruise was jointly carried out by the State Oceanic Administration and other units. The Chinese Coast Guard ship "3901" carried two drones and spent 19 days conducting maritime observations and aerial patrols of 12 islands and reefs, and landed on 15 islands and reefs for inspection.
Duan Dang noted that in September 2019 CCG 3901, one of only two Zhaotou class cutters, was renamed 5901; CCG 45111 became 4203; 3402 became 5402 and 46301 became 5303. But 3308 is still 3308. The emergence of 4XXX and 5XXX ships was remarkable because according to CCG’s naming conventions, there were no ships with 4XXX and 5XXX hull numbers. For 4-digits hull numbers, 1XXX ships are under the direct command of North Sea Sub-bureau, 2XXX under East China Sea Sub-bureau, and 3XXX under South China Sea Sub-bureau. CCG’s naming conventions for 4-digits hull numbers ships changed from mid-August 2019, with 3XXX for 3rd Division, 4XXX for 4th Division and 5XXX for 5th Division.
In May 2023, Vietnam attempted to conduct offshore oil and gas exploration operations in the waters near my country's Wan'an Bank. The Wan'an Bank has been Chinese territory since ancient times, and the seabed near the Wan'an Bank is rich in oil and natural gas, which can be described as a "treasure" land in the South China Sea. During the Chinese fleet's cruise and scientific research at Wan'an Bank, Vietnam repeatedly dispatched fishery administration ships to interfere with the Chinese fleet, but they were all effectively dealt with by Chinese ships. A few days later, the "Xiangyanghong 10" research ship left Wan'an Bank under the escort of several fishing boats, and only some ships, including several coast guard ships, were left near Wan'an Bank for patrol and protection. Originally, it was thought that the standoff at Wan'an Bank would come to an end for the time being.
In June 2023, the China Coast Guard issued Order No. 1, which for the first time formulated detailed regulations on maritime rights protection and law enforcement. It clearly states that the Chinese Coast Guard has the right to seize and expel ships that illegally enter Chinese waters, and can even fire, arrest, interrogate, etc. if necessary. From then on, the Chinese Coast Guard was officially given the power to "fire the first shot" by law.
On June 8, China's Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 arrived in the waters near Wan'an Bank to carry out patrol and island protection operations. After arriving at Wan'an Bank, the Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 turned on the AIS transmitter and continuously emitted the ship automatic identification signal to declare China's sovereignty over Wan'an Bank. Vietnam seemed to react strongly to the arrival of the Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 at Wan'an Bank. The Vietnamese Fisheries Administration Ships No. 218 and No. 269 interfered with and intercepted the Coast Guard Ship No. 5901. Faced with the interference of the Vietnamese Fisheries Administration Ship, the Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 first shouted a warning. After the verbal warning was ineffective, the Coast Guard Ship No. 5901 could no longer bear it and turned on the water cannon it carried to drive away the Vietnamese Fisheries Administration Ship.
The 5901 Coast Guard Ship used its huge tonnage advantage and the water cannons it carried to forcefully drive away the approaching Vietnamese fishery administration ships, successfully repelling the interference of the Vietnamese fishery administration ships! Seeing that they were unable to stop the 5901 Coast Guard Ship, the Vietnamese fishery administration ships finally left in dismay. In terms of tonnage, speed, and weapon configuration, although there are more Vietnamese fishery administration ships, they obviously have no advantage. Whether it is by collision or direct use of ship-borne heavy weapons, the Vietnamese fishery administration ships can be easily torn apart by the 5901 Coast Guard Ship. Moreover, if the 5901 Coast Guard Ship with a maximum speed of 25 knots wants to catch up with the Vietnamese fishery administration ships, these Vietnamese fishery administration ships can't escape at all! However, facing the siege of multiple Vietnamese fishery administration ships, the 5901 Coast Guard Ship only used the water cannon with the lowest damage to drive them away, indicating that the 5901 Coast Guard Ship showed mercy this time.
The reason why China's coast guard can expand its law enforcement powers is closely related to China's growing maritime strength. Once upon a time, even a small country like Vietnam dared to infringe on China's sovereignty in the South China Sea; but after decades of development, China's ability to safeguard its maritime sovereignty has been greatly enhanced. The Chinese Coast Guard has even been equipped with super-large coast guard ships with a displacement of up to 12,000 tons , which is much larger than the tonnage of military warships of many countries.
Chinese coast guard ship 5901 had been near Vietnam’s oil exploration blocks at Vanguard Bank in the South China Sea since early December 2023, Radio Free Asia has learned. The CCG 5901 has “conducted an intrusive patrol of Vietnam's oil and gas fields west of Vanguard Bank,” said Ray Powell, director of the U.S.-based SeaLight project, who was the first to spot the latest movement of the vessel in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). An EEZ gives a state exclusive access to the natural resources in the waters and in the seabed.
Data obtained by RFA from tracking website MarineTraffic show the CCG 5901 (formerly known as Zhong Guoa Hai Jing 3901) has weaved an on-and-off pattern west of the Vanguard Bank, where Vietnam has some oil exploration projects, since at least Dec. 9, 2023. MarineTraffic uses AIS (automatic information system) signals that ships are obliged to transmit for safety reasons to track them. The Chinese ship has mostly been running “dark”, or not broadcasting AIS, since departing Sanya, Hainan, on Nov. 14, 2023, according to Powell. “This frequent practice violates the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, of which China is a signatory,” he added.
“The [incursion] is not new but it happens right after Vietnam and China agreed to build a ‘Community with a Shared Future’ during Xi Jinping’s visit to Hanoi in December,” said Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The concept of a ‘Community with a Shared Future’ is China's vision for international relations in the Chinese leader, Xi’s Jinping era. “That shows that essentially the Vietnam-China bilateral relations have not changed and it remains very difficult for the two countries to share a future should China continue pursuing its current claim over nearly-entire South China Sea,” Hiep told RFA.
China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
The Philippine military said 02 July 2024 that China had deployed what is believed to be the world’s largest coast guard vessel near a rusting naval ship, which serves as Manila’s outpost at a disputed South China Sea shoal. China Coast Guard (CCG) ship 5901 was spotted patrolling near Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal on Monday, Filipino military spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said. The sighting came a week after a Filipino sailor lost a finger during a tense standoff between Philippine military and CCG personnel near the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded navy ship that serves as a military outpost in the shoal and is manned by marines.
The presence in contested waters of the 12,000 ton-Chinese vessel “is part of a broader pattern of intrusive patrols aimed at asserting unlawful claims over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” Trinidad said in a statement. The Philippine military said the CCG vessel was spotted near the unoccupied Sabina Shoal on Monday. On June 19, it was also seen cruising near Philippine-occupied Thitu (Pag-asa) island. Last month, it was seen near Scarborough Shoal, which lies within Manila’s EEZ but has been under Beijing’s de facto control since 2012.
Xerxes Trinidad said the Philippine military remained “vigilant and steadfast” in performing its mission to uphold international maritime laws, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “We emphasize that such actions by the CCG are illegal, coercive, and contrary to the spirit of maintaining peace and stability in the region,” he said. “We call on all nations to respect international law and to refrain from actions that escalate tensions in the [West Philippine Sea],” he added, referring to South China Sea waters that fall within Manila’s EEZ.
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